The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Dakota surpassed 5,000 on Monday while no new deaths were reported.
COVID-19 cases increased by 41 on Monday for a total of 5,034 cases, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. That doesn’t include people who show symptoms or are asymptomatic but are not tested.
A total of 1,533 test results were reported on Monday and the positive rate for coronavirus tests on Monday was 2.7%.
The number of coronavirus deaths in South Dakota remained at 62.
In Brown County, two new cases were confirmed Monday, pushing the total to 275 with 61 active. One person has died, 13 people have ever been hospitalized and there have been 1,532 negative tests.
Of the 164 cases connected to DemKota Ranch Beef in Aberdeen, 134 have recovered, according to Clayton.
The state has 1,069 active COVID-19 cases, according to the health department. Recoveries statewide increased to 3,903. The state health department noted 435 total people have been hospitalized during the pandemic, and 87 are currently hospitalized. There have been 40,627 negative tests.
Coronavirus patients are occupying 4% of staffed hospital beds in the state while 54% of hospital beds are available, according to the health department. Coronavirus patients are occupying 6% of intensive care unit beds, and 47% of ICU beds are available. Six percent of ventilators are being used by coronavirus patients while 78% of the state’s ventilator capacity is available.
The death of a coronavirus patient in the 20-29 age range was reported during the weekend. State Epidemiologist Josh Clayton said the person didn’t have any underlying medical conditions.
Beadle County saw the largest increase in cases on Monday with 14 new cases, for a total of 275. Thirty-three of the 83 cases connected to the LSI Jack Link’s facility in Alpena have recovered, according to Clayton. The state is providing support to the company to hold mass testing events for its employees, one of which took place during the weekend and another that’s scheduled for later this week, Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon said.
Mass testing
A total of 4,077 nursing home residents and 6,023 nursing home staff have been tested for the coronavirus so far in the state’s plan to mass test long-term care facilities, according to Malsam-Rysdon.
About 98% of nursing homes in communities with substantial community spread have completed the mass testing and nearly three-quarters of nursing homes in communities without substantial community spread have completed the mass testing, according to Malsam-Rysdon. The next mass testing will take place at assisted living facilities.
Sioux Falls rally fallout
It could take up to two weeks for new coronavirus cases to appear that were caused by the virus’ spread during Sunday’s protest in Sioux Falls, health officials said on Monday.
More than 1,000 protesters gathered in Van Eps Park and marched through Sioux Falls on Sunday afternoon to support justice for George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. Later in the night, protesters congregated at the Empire Mall, where they broke store windows and threw rocks at police.
It takes two to 14 days for a new case to appear and could take upwards of two weeks for new coronavirus cases to appear that are the result of close contact during the protest, Clayton said. There is a risk of a spreading the coronavirus wherever people congregate, Clayton said. People should take precautions of staying 6 feet away from others and wear masks to reduce the chance of the virus spreading, he said.
People will also be heading to the polls across South Dakota for the primary election on Tuesday. Clayton said health officials gave guidance on safety precautions at the polls and election officials also reviewed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(visit www.aberdeennews.com)